Amusement apparatus



March v 18, 1947. N. D. wYcKOFF- 2,417,537

I AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1941 e Sheets-Sheet 1 104 HHHHW.

.IHWIHI E E v jhw rzforx L5" %Z%Z,D Zlfycaff 7 a g Jftorney March 18, 1947. N. D. WYCKOFF AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1941 6 Sheets-:Sheet 2 March 18, 1947. w c o AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed June 18, 194i 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Nathan D. Wyckoff, Sterling, Ill.

Application June 18, 1941, Serial No. 398,514

This invention relates to amusement apparatus and more particularly to amusement apparatus whereby games ordinarily requiring a play director may be played by one or more persons without the assitance of the normally required play director.

Many games which have a wide appeal are of such a nature as to require a play director who by vocal or visual means directs the play of the several players of the game, and in such games, in order to justify the trouble or expense incident to the provision of such a play director, it is necessar that the game be played by a relatively large number of people. An example of such a game is the game which is popularly known under the name of Bingo, although it is applicants understanding that games of a similar character are played under a variety of different names in different parts of the country. In the game of Bingo it is customary for each of the players to be provided with a playing card, and after all of the players have received such cards, the play director calls off combinations of numbers and letters which may or may not be present in the various designated areas of the playing cards of the various players, and each player marks or otherwise designates the particular portion or area of his playing card upon which the called letter-number combinations are found upon his playingcard. The objective of this particular game as normally conducted is to obtain upon a playing card a line of five numbers which have been called by the play director, and the first one of the players to attain this line of called numbers is designated the winner.

The primary object of the present invention is to enable games of this character, and particularly the game known as Bingo, to be played without the services of a play director.

A further object of this invention is to enable games of this character which normally require a relatively large number of players, to be played by one player, without the services of a play director, and yet to enable the game to be played with the same apparatus by a relatively large number of players.

A further object of this invention is to enable games of the aforesaid character to be played with an apparatus which is adapted to be governed by coin controlled means; and a further object ancillary to the foregoing is to enable such coin controlled apparatus to be constructed so as to be conveniently operated without the necessity for extensive instructions to the players. Further objects related to the foregoing are to 11 Claims. (Cl. 312-55) insure that the coin controlled game apparatus cannot be fraudulently operated; to prevent retention of coins when the supply of playing cards has been exhausted; to enable a relatively large number of difierent series of play directions to be used in such an amusement apparatus; and to provide a phonographic play-directing means in such a game apparatus which is interrelated with the automatic starting means in such a manner as to cause difierent play directions to be given in at least some of the succeeding operations of the game apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and claims and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an amusement apparatus embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the amusement apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the upper portion of the apparatus, the rear panel or wall being removed to illustrate details of internal construction;

Fig. 3A is a rear elevational view of the lower portion of the amusement apparatus, the rear panel or wall being removed to illustrate the details of internal construction;

Fig. 4 is a plan section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3A;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental elevational view as viewed from the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 5A is a fragmentary perspective view showing a part of the phonograph control mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6--B in Fig. 3 and illustrating the details of construction of the playing card vending means;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the magazine of the playing card vending means;

Fig. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the manner in which the various operative mechanisms are electrically connected; and

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of one of the playing cards used with the amusement apparatus herein illustrated.

For purposes of disclosure a single form of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will hereinafter be described in detail as incorporated in a particular form of cabinet and as applied to the playing of a particular game, but it is to be understood that this disclosure is not intended as a limitation of the invention to this particular form of cabinet or to the playing of the particular game with reference to which the invention is herein described, it being contemplated that various changes might be made by those skilled in the art to adapt the invention to other forms of cabinets and to the playing of other games without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In the form 'chosen for disclosure herein the invention is embodied in a game apparatus of the coin controlled type, mounted in a sectional cabinet Ill, and particularly adapted for playing the game popularly known as Bingo. The invention provides, within the cabinet l0, a means for vending playing cards with whichvthe game may be played by one or more persons, and there is also provided within the cabinet a play-directing means which, in the form chosen for .disclosure, is in the form of a phonographic reproducing means l3 having one ormore'phonograph records [4 which in their sound track or tracks carry recorded playing instructions or directions whichare reproduced audibly through the medium of a loud speaker I 5 and an associatedamplifier [6.

The playing cards I for the game are arranged to be vended from one or more vending devices 18 mounted within the cabinet and operable individually by means including manual operating plungers 26. The playing cards I! are, of course, vended to the prospective players before the phonographic reproducing means l3 is set into operation, and in the present instance the vending of such playing cards I1 is coin controlled through the medium of one or more coin slot mechanisms 22,'one of which is associated with each of the playing card vending devices 18, and in order to prevent operation of the phonographic play-directing means [3 during undesired intervals or :prior to :the time when the players are ready to mark their playing cards, the operation of such phonographic means 13 is rendered dependent upon the operation of the card vending devices It so as to be operable only after the vendin of one or more playing cards by the vending devices. In the present instance the phonographic reproducing means is arranged for operation under a manually controlled starting means, this startingimeans being conditioned for operation as an incident to the operation of one of the playing card vending devices i8 through a vending cycle, and by reason of this arrangement, the operation of the phonographic reproducing means l3 is placedunder the control of the playerorplayers to 'the end that 'such players may operate the playing card vending means to'obtain 'a relatively large number of playing cards It! :before the phonographic reproducing means I3 :is ren-- derled operative. Thus the play directions :are rendered available by the operation of one of the playing card vending devices l8, but are delayed'untilsuch'time as the players are ready .to play the game. A player then manually'actuates the starting-means, and the-play-directing means provided by the phonographic reproducing means 13 starts upon'a play-directing cycle, and upon completion of the play-directing cycle, the operation of the phonographic reproducing means is automatically terminated. As an incident to the starting of the .phonographic reproducingmeans 13 by the manualstarting means, the manual starting meansis automatically renderedineffective .to produceanotherlstarting operation, so that the starting means remains ineffective until a playing card vending means I8 is again operated to vend one or more playing cards I 1.

In the present instance the manual starting means which is to be operated by the player to initiate operation of the phonographic reproducing means I3 is in the nature of an electrical means which is energized through actuation of a control element provided by a normally open push button switch 25, this switch '25 forming part of an energizing circuit which is conditioned for closure as an incident to the operation of one or the-other of the playing card vending devices l8.

As hereinbefore pointed out the present invention is adapted for use in playing a variety of different games, but as herein shown, the apparatus is particularly adapted for playing of the game known as Bingo. A playing card I1 for use in playing the game of .Bingo is illustratedin Fig. 9 of the drawings wherein it will be'evident that the card is ,divided in the .conventional manner into five vertical .columns, and the letters of the name Bingoare'printed at the upper ends of the successive columns. Thus the first column is identified by the letteriB, the second by the letter I, the third by the letter N, the fourth'by the letter G, and the last or fifth column by the letter O. The several columns, below the identifying letters, are divided into five transverse divisions so that a playing field is provided having 25 squares arranged Sin a vertical direction and 5 in a horizontal direction. Cards of this character are prepared as by printing so as to include different variantly arranged number in each of these squares, the squares in the -B column being usually arrangedto bear five numbers falling in the range between 1 and 15 inclusive, the I column being arranged to have various numbers printed in the squares thereof with the numbers in this column fallingbetween 16 and 30inclusive, the numbers employed in the N column usually fall between .31 and :45 inclusivegthosein the G column'between 46 and60 inclusive, while those in the 0 column usually fall between 61 and 75 inclusive. In "most instancesithe central square of the middle'column is designated as a free square. The numbers and thearrangement of numbers carrled'by the individual playing-cards l"! are varied considerably in an assortment'of such cards, and when the play director or play-directing means calls off a limited seriesof numbers falling within the range of 1 to '75 inclusive, the players mark those numbers-which have been called-and which they find upon their card. The objective'of the game is 'to find a series of five called numberswhich are disposed on a playingcard in astraightline, the central or 'free square being effective .in certain instances as a number in providing such awinning straight line combination of numbers.

In the present amusement apparatus I have found it advantageous :to so prepare the playdirecting records 14 that a series of 25 numbers, falling within the range of 1 to '75 inclusive, are calledduring a cycle of operation of the apparatus, and in accordance with the usual'praztice, each such number is prefaced by calling -of-tl1c letter which identifies the column in which the number 'isnormally found. Actualcalling of the identifying letter would'not, of course, be essential, but is in accordance with the usual ,practice employed in playing this particular game.

In th amusement apparatus of the present invention it would be possible to vendthe playing;

cards ll to the players from a single vending device l8, but I prefer to provide a plurality of;

suchvending devices l8 in order that the players may obtain the desiredplaying cardsmoreread- *ily, and for thefurther reason, that such .a plurality of vending devices affords an element of selection which the players may desire to exercise. The playing card vending devices H! are, in the present instance, mounted in an upper section 10A of the cabinet [0, one such vending device l8 being disposed adjacent to each of the side walls 21 of the cabinet section lliA as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Each vending device l8 includes an upstanding supply magazine 28 in which a stack of playing cards I1 is adapted to be arranged each in a flat or horizontal position,

the magazine having a removable rear wall 29 held in place by a latchdevice 33 to facilitate loading of the magazine. The playing cards H are arranged with a weight 3| on top of the stack thereof so as to insure proper downward feeding movement of the playing cards I! within the magazine 28, and the lower playing card i! rests on a feeding slide 32 .whi 3h is mounted for reciprocation beneaththe lower end of the magazine 28. The feeding slide 32 has a plate member 33 mounted thereon which normally underlies the lower playing cards I1, and a forwardly facing shoulder 341s provided by the plate 33 so that when the feeding slide 32 is reciprocated rearwardly, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 6, the plate 33 is withdrawn rearwardly from beneath the lowermost playing cards I1 and the shoulder 33 is diposed rearwardly of the rear edge of the lowermost playing card. When the feeding slide 32 is thereafter withdrawn in a forward direction, or to the right in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the feeding slide advances the lowermost playing card along a guideway provided by stationary upper and lower plates 35 and 36. After the initial loading of the magazine the first two reciprocatory 38 and having a head All at its rear end adapted, in forward or'outward withdrawing movement of s the plunger, to engage a downwardly projecting flange 4| provided on the feed slide; 32. The plunger 23 is normally urged rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6 by an expansive coil spring 42, and when so positioned thehead of the plunger is engaged with a buffer spring 43 which surrounds the plunger between the head and a bearing element 44 which. supports the plunger 2|].

The feeding slide 32 normally assumes the position shown in Fig. 6 so that withdrawal of the plunger 20 is ineffective to feed or vend a playing card IT; and in order to condition the vending device for a vending operation it is essential to withdraw the feeding slide 32 to the rear, orto the left in Fig. 6 until a card 11 is dropped in front of the shoulder 34. The plunger 23 may then be withdrawnto discharge the leading card H from the vending slot 31. The desired conditioningof the vending device I8 is attained under the control of the coin actuated -mechanism22, andin the present instance theslide 32 is retracted by electrical means in the form of a solenoid46 having its armature 41 connected to the flange 4|. .Thus when the solenoid 46 is momenw net section lBA, and a coin inserted into the slot.

49 travels downwardly along a guideway 53 into a housing 5i :withinwhich conventional means tests the coin to detect at least certain types offraudulent devices or slugs. If, the coin is a proper one it is discharged downwardly from the housing 5| into a guide chute 53 down which it rolls into a coin box 54 housed within the cabinet section liiA. As the coin is discharged at 52 from the coin slot housing 5|, it aotuates one end of a lever 56, and the other end of this lever 56 is thus caused momentarily to close both switches 58 and 59 of a switch means 60. Closure of the switch 58, through circuit connections to be hereinafter described in detail, serves to energize the solenoid d6 of the associated card vending device l8, thereby to condition the same fora vending operation.

Coin slot mechanism such as that indicated at 22 are customarily provided with a coin rejecting or returning means, and such conventional means are in many instances rendered operative by manual actuation of means such as a spring biased return button 63 which, as shown in Fig. 6, actuates a bell crank 64. The bell crank 64 is operative in a conventional andwell known manner, when actuated by the button 63, to.

cause a coin which is passing through the mechanism to be discharged into a return pocket 63 rather than into the chute 53; and the user may retrieve the coin from the return pocket 68.

In accordance with the present invention this coin rejecting or returning mechanism is utilized to automatically prevent retention of coins when the associated card-supply magazine is empty or nearly empty. To this end a solenoid iii is mounted rearwardly of and in alignment with the button 63, and its armature H is connected as by a wire 12 to one arm of the bell crank 64. The arrangement is such that when the solenoid, 10 is energized the coin rejecting mechanism is rendered operative. As shown in Fig.6, the resulting coin rejecting action is maintained through the medium of a latch 13 which engages a notch 14 in the armature H to retain it in the rearward or active position to which it is actuated when the solenoid is energized.

To causethesolenoid 10 to be energized a detecting means is associated with thesupply magazine 28, as shown in Fig. 7. Thus a bracket 15 supports a horizontallyslidable plunger 16 be" side the .magazine 28, so that one end of the plunger 16 extends through the adjacent wall of the magazine and bearsagainst the edges of the card IT. The plunger 16 is urged against the cards I! by a spring 11, and is so positioned vertically that when the last card is being fed from the magazine, the plunger 16 shifts into the magazine, over the top of the weight 3|, Such inwardmovement constitutes the detecting movement of the plunger 16, and is arranged to cause momentary closure'of a switch I9 carried on the bracket I5. To this end a lever has one end bearing against'one' spring blade or contact of the switch I9, and the other arm located in the path of a head 8| formed on the plunger I6. The arrangement is such that in a detecting movement of the plunger 16 the head 0| rocks the lever 80 to cause momentary closure of the switch I9, and then passes freely beyond the lower end of the lever'Bi'I so asto permit reopening of'the switch I9. 'The switch I9 is connected, as will hereinafter be described, to the related solenoid I0 so as to cause the solenoid to be momentarily energized when the feeding of the last card I I from the magazine. Thus the coin return means is actuated to and latched in its active position when the supply of cards in an associated card vending device runs low, and the coin return means is maintained active and all coins are returned until such time as the magazine is refilled.

After the vending of the playing cards I! has been completed, and the player or players start the play-directing means by actuation of the starting button or switch 25, the automatic phonographic reproducing means I3 is started upon an operative cycle wherein a complete set of play directions is reproduced from one of the phonographic records I4. As hereinbefore pointed out, the phonographic reproducing means I3 is herein shown as being of the type wherein a different record is played during succeeding cycles of operation, but it will be understood that in many instances it may be possible to utilize but a single record I4. The phonographic reproducing means may be of many different types so long as it embodies means for automatically terminating its operation after a complete set of play directions has been reproduced. The mechanism shown herein is best illustrated in Figs. 3A and 4, and this mechanism constitutes a modification of a commercial phonograph unit produced by J. P. Seeburg Corporation, of Chicago, Illinois, this unit having been modified so as to reduce the number of turntables 85 upon which records I4 are supported to eliminate manual selectivity with respect to the records, and such modification reduces to some extent the automatic variation or selection of the records E4 in successive cycles of operation. Since the phonographic reproducing means is in a basic sense a commercial unit, it will be described herein only in so far as'is necessary for a complete understanding of the operation of the present amusement apparatus.

Thus as shown in Figs. 3A and 4 the phonographic reproducing means-comprises a mounting plate 86 beneath which a frame structure 81 is carried, the mounting plate 06 being supported on brackets 87? within the lower cabinet section HEB on a yielding mounting 53. On the frame structure 8! a driving motor 89 is mounted and this motor through the medium of a suitable reductiongearing 99 is operable to'drive a vertically extending shaft 9| upon which the several turntables 8E. aremounted just above the mounting plate 99. A removable bearing 93 engages the upper end of the shaft M to impart stability thereto. 1

The phonographic reproducing means provides a tone arm 95 mounted onacarri'age mechanism' 95' which is vertically slidable along a supporting shaft 9? so that the tone arm may be moved to a'proper level for operative engagement with any one of the records I4. Generally considered, the tone arm is first moved to the desired vertical level by a yielding means, the extent of movement being determined by stop devices 98 or 99 selectively which are engaged by a stop arm I flil'mounted on the carriage 96,

' selected record I4, and thereafter the tone arm 7 relationship;

follows the sound track until it reaches the stopping groove adjacent to the central portion of the record, at'which time a stopping mechanism is actuated to return the tone arm to its normal position and cause the phonographic mechanism to terminate its cycle of operation.

The operation as outlined generally in the preceding paragraph is attained primarily by cam means, such cam means being mounted upon a cam shaft IOI which is mounted in the supporting frame 81 rearwardly of the shaft 9| and in a horizontal location. A worm I02 on the shaft 9| drives a worm wheel I03 which is loosely mounted on the shaft NH, and a normally engaged clutch device I04 is provided for causing the worm wheel I03 to drive the cam shaft IOI. The clutch I04 has its driven element urged in a right-hand or clutch-engaging direction by a spring I04, Fig. 4, so as to tend normally to engage and cause the shaft I0-I to be driven by the gear I03, and the engagement and disengagement of the clutch is controlled by a throw-out lever I05 which engages a cam surface I06 on the driven clutch element to disengage the clutch after the driven member of the clutch, and the cam shaft II, have been rotated through substantially one-half revolution to what may be termed an intermediate stop position. It is during this first one-half revolution of the cam shaft IOI that the tone arm is manipulated to start the operation of the reproducing means, and after such operation has started the throw-out lever I 05 disengages the clutch I04 so that the cam shaft I 0I- remains stationary. The throwout lever I05 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a stationary horizontal shaft I05, and a torsion spring I05 acting between the shaft I05 and the lever I05 urges the rear end of the lever toward its action position against the side or periphery of the driven element of the clutch I04. When the tone arm reaches the stopping groove of a record,'tl 1e carriage 96 is rapidly rotated in a clockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 4, and means on the end of an arm I08 engages a cam surface I09 formed on the forward end of the throw-out lever I05, and this rocks the lever I05 about the shaft I05 so as to raise the rear end of the lever I05 and thereby disengage the same from the cam surface I06. The driven member of the clutch I04 is thereby released from the clutch-disengaging action of the lever I05, and the spring I04 moves the clutch-element to its clutch-engaged position wherein the clutch is effective to drive the cam shaft IOI. Thus the cam shaft I9I is driven through the second onehalf of its cycle, during which movement the tone armis moved in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 4, was to be disposedoutside of or beyond the edges of the record tables, and the tonearmisthen restored to its inactive lowered andastop arm I I0 on-the cam shaft I'0I operates upon a' switch arm III of a switch III to break the circuit to the motor 89 and thereby stop operation of the phonographic reproducing means. The means for accomplishing these operations are described hereinafter.

The vertical movement of the tone arm carriage 99 is governed by a cam II5 on the cam shaft IIII, which acts through a lever H6 and a link II1 to shift the carriage 96 downwardly against the force of a spring means H8. Thus during the last half of the cycle, the carriage 96 is forced downwardly, while during the first half of the cycle it is permitted by the cam II5 to move upwardly until the stop finger I strikes a stop 98 or 99. The stop 99 constitutes a disk notched so as to form a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial fingers, which may or may not be in the path of the stop finger I00, and hence the carriage may travel upwardly in some instances until the disk-like stop 98 is effective. The stops 98 and 99 are mounted on a vertical shaft I I9 which in each cycle of operation of the device is rotated for a short distance by gearing I20 and cam means I20 associated with the cam shaft I9I, so as to render the stops 99 and 99 variantly effective. The means for thus operating the gearing I20 may be of any conventional type such as the ratchet means shown in Fig. A. In this construction a bell crank I20A has one arm thereof operatively connected to the cam means I20, while the other arm of the bell crank I20A is connected by a link I200 to a ratchet arm I20D. The pawl of the ratchet arm I20D acts on a ratchet I 20E connected to the gear I20F of the gearing I20 to advance the gear I20F through an indexing movement each time the cam shaft IN is rotated through the last half of its cycle. In the event that the lower turntable 65 is to be used, another angularly and downwardly displaced stop element such as the stop 99 would, of course, be provided on the Shaft I I9.

Appropriate and timed lateral shifting of the tone arm 95 is attained by a cam I2I on the shaft Iill, which acts through a medially pivoted arm I22 and a roller I23 on the arm I22 to engage 1 wise movement when the carriage has reached the proper level as determined by the stop means 9899. Such counterclockwise movement of the carriage and the tone arm serves to disengage the roller I08 from the cam surface I09, and hence the throw-out lever .I05 is permitted to resume its active relation wherein it will cooperate with the cam surface I06 to disengage the clutch I04 when the shaft IOI reaches its intermediate stop position in the next cycle of machine operation.

At appropriate points in the operating cycle, certain parts of the carriage 96, and the tone arm 95, are slightly lowered or slightly raised from the primary level determined by the stop mechanism 99-99, thereby to engage the needle carried by the tone arm with the sound track of the record in the initial portion of the cycle and disengage the needle from the sound track at substantially the end of the sound track. This is accomplished by means of a cam I25 and a medially pivoted lever I26 pivoted on the shaft I05, and a, roller I26" carried on one end of the lever I26. The forward end of the arm I26 has an upwardly extending link I263 connected thereto, and the link I26B has an arcuate head I26C at its upper end which underlies the tone arm 95. Hence an upward movement of the link I26B is effective to raise the tone arm 95, while lowering movement of the link I263 serves to lower the tone arm onto the record.

Thus the phonographic reproducing means I3 operates through a cycle of operation which is automatically terminated after a complete set of play directions has been reproduced.

The circuit connections for the present amusement apparatus are best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings wherein it will be seen that two power lines l5!) and I5I are led into the machine and connected to terminals I52 and I53. One side of the circuit to the motor 99 is provided from the terminal I53 by means of a wire I54 which is connected to one contact II I" of the switch III, the other contact III' of the switch III being connected by the wires I55 and I56 to one side of the motor 99. The switch III is shown in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and it will be recalled that this switch is opened at the end of a cycle of operation of the phonographic reproducing means I3 and must be again closed before another cycle of operation may be initiated. Such closure is effected under the control of the coin slot mechanism which. as will be hereinafter described, causes a solenoid I51to be energized. Whenever the solenoid I51 is energized, an escapement device I58 mounted on the armature of the solenoid or relay I51 releases an escapement wheel I59 so that this wheel may rotate in a counterclockwise direction for one step under the biasing action of a spring I60. At this point a pin I6I on the escapement wheel I59 contacts the stop I62 so that further actuation of the relay I51 cannot cause further movement of the escapement wheel I59. The member III" of the switch III is biased by a spring I63 in sucha manner as to urge the switch II I to a closed relationship, and a hook-like device I64 carried on the switch element III" is engaged with the pin I6I so that when the pin is spaced from the stop I62, the switch member I I I" is held downwardly in a switch opening position. Therefore when the solenoid or relay I51 is energized to permit counterclockwise movement of the escapement wheel I59, the switch III is permitted to close. The switch I I I maintains this closed position until the arm IIO engages the switch arm III, and at this time a pawl I65 carried by the switch arm III' engages the escapement wheel I59 and returns the same one step in a clockwise position, in which position the escapement wheel is maintained by the escapement device I58. As soon as the cam arm H0 has passed the end of the switch arm III, the arm III' is withdrawn in an upward direction by the spring I63, thereby to open the switch I I I.

The other side of the motor circuit is arranged to be controlled in part by the coin slot mechanism and in part by the manual starting button 25. To this end wires I10 and Ill in series are connected to one contact I12 of a switch I13 which is of the spring contact, normally closed type, and the other contact I14 of this switch is connected by means of a wire I15 to the other terminal I52. The switch I13 is closed at the time the phonographic reproducing means completes its operating cycle, and means is therefore provided for opening this switch as an incident to the vending of a playing card I1 and for closing this switch when the starting button 25 is actuated.

This means, of course; provides for a similar con.- troltobeefiected by either one of the playing card vending. devices, and. but. one of .these circuit arrangements will. be. described. Thusan escapement wheel. I80 is providedwhich is actuated in a clockwise direction. against the. action of. a spring I80? when a relay device I82 is momentarily energized-and which is released for movement in. a counterclockwise direction when. the relay device I 8| isenergized. This actuation is eifected by the armature of the relay device I82 which acts. as..a pawl upon the ratchet wheel I80. The escapement wheel I 88. carries a pin I83 sothat when the escapement wheel I8!) is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and. 8, the pin I83 engages the switch contact I12 to open the switch I13. Whenthe escapement wheel I8!) is rotated one stepina clockwise. direction due .to momentary energization. of therelay I82, the switch I13 is allowed to close. and the other side of the: motor circuit is closed.

Oneside-of the coil. of. the relay I8I is. con.- nected. to the terminal I53: by a wire I85 while they wire. I86. extendsto a terminal I81. From theterminal I81. the wire. I88 extends through branch leads to. one contact of each of the switchesi59, the common contact ofthe switches 58' and 59 being. connected. by a wire I89. and a branchlead I89 to theother terminal I52. Thus when.the switch 59 is closed momentarily by the passage of. a coin through-the coin mechanism, the-solenoid I 8|. is energized.

The switch. 59 also governs the solenoid or relay. I51, a wire I9Ilv connectin one side of the relay I51 to the terminal I53 anda wire I9I con.- necting the other terminal of the relay to the terminal I81.

Whenthe escapement wheel. I89 is. released by the relay I 8.I,.the switch I13 is opened, and another. switch I94which'is of the-bridging type is closed. as a part, of an. energiz ng circuit for the relay I82. Thus. the switch I94 constitutes a conditioning switch. which in response to the vending of a card I1, conditions the starting c rcuit whichis u timately governed by the push button.switch-25.. Thus thewire I15 from the terminal I52. is connected. by a wire I95 to one terminal of the switch I94, and. a wire I96 con.- meets the other terminal of this switch. to one terminal of the switch and a. wire I91 connects another terminalof theswitch 25 to. one side of therelay- I82, whilea wire I 98. connects the other side of. this. relay. to the .wire I85, which it willbe recalled, is connectedto the terminal. I53.

Thuswhen the cycle of .operationof the amusement. apparatus isterminated by the cam arm II I], thereby opening the switch II I and breaking the motor circuit, the switch I13 in the other side of the. motor circuit remainsclosed. When one ofthe'card vending devices is operated, the coin closes the switches 53 and 59.. This, of course, actuatesthe conditionin solenoid. 4.6. of the card vending mechanism which. is associatedwith. the particular switch. 58,. and in addition. it. serves to energize thegrelayslfiland. I81. The circuit from each. switch 58-to;its solenoid ABisprovided by a. wire 46.. from the outer contact of the switch 58to-one terminal .of;its.solenoid.48, and by a wire 46. fromthe other terminalof the solenoid to the terminal.l.53.. Such energization of the relays I51. and. IBI- causes. the switch, III tov be. closed and the switch I 13. to be opened. Hencethe .circult-to. the motor 89;. still remainsopen, but is adapted. to. be:closed atanytimeunder the will of. the :user, sincetheoonditioning switch I94 has been closed. Hence the user may, after he has obtainedv the desired number of playing cards I i, press the push button switch 25, thereby to energize the relay I82 and cause opening of the conditioning switch I94 and closure of the switch I13 inthe other side of the motor circuit. When themotor circuit is thus closed, the amplifier I6 isenergized by virtue of a connection provided by, wires I56 and I'll! across the motor circuit. The. phonographic reproducing means, therefore, starts. upon its operative cycle s as to give the playing directions required for playing of the game, and after a complete set of playing directions has been given, the operation or cycle of the machine is terminated through the action of the cam arm III).

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided an amusement apparatus which enables a game such as the game'of Bingo to be playedby but asingle player, and yet this amusement. apparatus is such that the game may be played by a.r.elatively large number of players. Through. the use ofthe present amusement apparatus, the game may be played Without the services of. a play director, and hence the game maybe played under many circumstances which heretofore would have prevented the playing of this or. similar games.

Thus while I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that this embodiment is capable of operation and. modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth. but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In. an amusement apparatus of the character described, a cabinet'having an automatic phonographic reproducin means therein, said phonographic reproducing means including means for initiating a cycle of operation thereof and for automatically terminating said cycle, means for conditioning said initiating means for operation, manually operable starting means for operating, said initiating means when said initiating means is conditioned by said conditioning meansto. thereby initiate a cycle of operation of. saidreproducing. means, a phonograph record associated with. said. phonographic reproducing means and having. directions. recorded on the sound. track thereof for the playin of a game, playing. card vending mechanism adapted in each operation. thereof to vend a card for playing said game,.means operable. as an incident to the operation of .said playing card vending mechanism to operate. said conditioning means and thereby condition such initiating means for operation by saidmanual starting means, and means operableas. an.incident. to the operation of said manual. starting. means. toreturn said conditioning means to an inactive relationship whereby said manual starting means is thereafter disabled until said playin card vending means is. again operated...

2. Anamusement apparatus of the character described comprising a normally inoperative phonographic. reproducing device including a recordhaving a. sound track. bearing game-playing directions, and said device having electrically operated starting means and automatically operated stoppingmeans for terminatin a predetermined cycleof saidphonographic reproducing device, an energizing circuit for said electrically energized starting means includingv a manually closable switch arranged to render said starting circuit ineifective, a playing card vending mechanism operable in each actuation thereof to vend a playing card, means associated with said playing card vending means operable to close said conditioning switch, and means operable as an incident to the starting of said phonographic reproducing means to cause opening of said conditioning circuit.

3. In a coin controlled amusement apparatus, a playing card vending mechanism, coin controlled mechanism governing the operation of said playing card vending mechanism, play-directing means for giving directions to the player or players, said play-directing means'having a starting means including a starting circuit and having an automatic stopping means for terminating a cycle of operation of said play-directing means, said starting circuit including a conditioning switch governed by said playing card vending mechanism to condition said circuit for closure when said playing card vending mechanism is operated, and said starting circuit including a manually closable normally open starting switch adapted to be 7 closed by a player after vending of one or more playing cards by said vending mechanism to thereby initiate a cycle of operation of said playdirecting means, and means associated with said play-directing means and operable as an incident to the starting of said play-directing means to open said conditioning circuit.

4. In a coin controlled amusement apparatus of the character disclosed, a playing card vending mechanism, manual means governing the operation of said playing card vending mechanism, play-directing means for giving directions to the player or players, said play-directing means having a starting means, including a starting circuit, for initiating a predetermined cycle of operation of the play-directing means and having an automatic stopping means for terminating the cycle of operation of said play-directing means, said starting circuit including a conditioning switch governed by said playing card vending mechanism to condition said circuit for closure when said playing card vending mechanism is operated, and said starting circuit including a manually closable normally open starting switch adapted to be closed by a player after vending of one or more playing cards by said vending mechanism.

5. An amusement apparatus of the character described having a cabinet with an automatic phonographic reproducing means therein, said phonographic reproducing means including means for initiating a cycle of operation thereof and for automatically terminating said cycle, means for conditioning said initiating means for operation, manually operable means for operating said imtiating means when said initiating means is conditioned by said conditioning means, said phonographic reproducing means having a plurality of phonograph records associated therewith, each having different playing directions recorded thereon for the playing of a game, and said phonographic reproducing means embodying means for rendering different ones of said records effective in at least certain of a series of cycles of operation of said reproducing means, playing card vending mechanism adapted in each operation thereof to vend a card for playing said game, means operable as an incident to the operation of said playing card vending mechanism to operate said conditioning means and thereby condition such initiating means for operation by said manual starting means, and means operable as an in- 14 cident to the operation of said manual starting means to return said conditioning means to an inactive relationship whereby said manual starting means is thereafter disabled until said playing card vending means is again operated.

6. In an amusement apparatus, an automatic phonographic reproducing means, said phonographic reproducing means including means for initiating a cycle of operation thereof and for automatically terminating said cycle, means for conditioning said initiating means for operation,

manually operable means for operating said initiating means when said initiating means is conditioned by said conditioning means, phonograpic record means associated with said phonographic reproducing means and providing sound track means embodying a plurality of different sets of playing directions recorded thereon for the playing of a game, said phonographic reproducing means including means for varying in predetermined series the set of playing directions to be reproduced in a cycle of operation of said reproducing means, playing card vending mechanism adapted in each operation thereof to vend a card for playing said game, means operable as an incident to the operation of said playing card vending mechanism to operate said conditioning means and thereby condition such initiating means for operation by said manual starting means, and means operable as an incident to the operation of said manual starting means to return said conditioning means to an inactive relationship whereby said manual starting means is thereafter disabled until said playing card vending means is again operated.

7. In anamusement apparatus of the character described a normally inoperative phonographic reproducing device including a record having playing instructions and directions recorded thereon under the direction of which one or more players may play the game to which said recorded directions relate, said phonographic device having starting means and stopping means automatically operated under control of a part of saidreproducing device for terminating a predetermined cycle of operation of said phonographic reproducing device, control means for said starting means including a manually actuatable starting element and a conditioning element arranged to render said starting element ineffective, a playing card vending mechanism operable in each actuation thereof to vend at least one playing card pertaining to the game directions recorded on said record, and means associated with said playing card vending means operable upon said conditioning element to condition said starting element for operation, whereby a player may initiate operation of said phonographic reproducing means after one or more playing cards have been vended by said vending means.

8. In an amusement apparatus, play-directing means for giving play-directions to the player or players, said play-directing means having normally ineffective manually actuatable starting means and having an automatic stopping means for terminating operation of said play-directing means after a single cycle of operation thereof, said starting means including a conditioning element operable to an active relation to condition said starting means to be effective upon manual actuation thereof, playing card vending mechanism operable when actuated to vend a playing card and to operate said conditioning element to its active relation, and said starting means ineluding a manually .actuatable element whereby a playermay actuate said starting means when 'said'conditioning element isin its active relation, thereby to initiate a cycle of operation of said play-directing means. i

9. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a' card vending means having an operating means arranged for actuation as an incident to the vending of a card therefrom, au-

tomatic phonographic reproducing means operablein an operative cycle to give play directions relating to a predetermined game and having an energizing circuit for operating said phonograpliic reproducing means including two switches, means operable as an incident to the operation of said operating means of said card vending'mfeans for closing a first one of said switches, means operable'by said phonographic means at the end of a cycle of operation thereof to open said first switch, manual means for initiating a cycle of operation of said phonographic reproducing means, means operable as an incident to the operation of'said operating means of said card vending means for opening said second one of said switches, and means operable by said manual means for closing the second one of said switches.

10. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a card vending means having an operating means arranged for actuation as an incident to the vending of a card therefrom, automatic phonographic reproducing means operable in an operative cycle to give play directions relating to a predetermined game and having an energizing circuit for operating said phonographic reproducing means including two switches, means operable as an incident to the operation of said operating means of said card vending means for closing a first one of said switches, means operable by said phonographic means at the end of a cycle of operation thereof to open said first switch, means operable as an incident to the operation of said operating means of said card vending means to open the second one. of said switches, and electrically operated said phonographic reproducing means.

11. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a card vending means having an operating means arranged for actuation as an incident to the vending of a card therefrom, automatic phonographic reproducing means operable in an operative cycle to give play directions relating to a predetermined game and having an energizing circuit for operating said phonographic reproducing means including two switches, means operable as an incident to the operation of said operating means of said card vending means for closing a first one of said switches, means operable by said phonographic means at the end of a cycle of operation thereof to open said first switch, means operable as an incident to the operation of said operating means of said card vending means to open the second one of said switches, electrically operated means for returning said second one of said switches to a closed position to start operation of said phonographic reproducing means, and a starting circuit for energizing said electrically operated means including a normally open manually operable switch also including a second switch actuated to an open position as an incident to closure of said first-named second switch and actuated to a closed or conditioned position as an incident to opening of said first-named second switch.

NATHAN 1. YCK F- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 424,592 Batdorf Apr. 1 1890 440,470 Cochran Nov. 11, 1890 1,787,644 Schermack Jan. 6, 1931 2,321,402 Margulis i June 8, 1943 

